When Caley Oquist touched the wall to finish the 100-
meter backstroke at last season’s Southeastern Conference Championships, all her teammates were jumping to celebrate her record-breaking performance.
Then there was assistant swimming coach Jeana Kempe, who was standing still, yet smiling at the then-sophomore swimmer. Oquist walked over to Kempe, who gave her “the world’s biggest hug.”
The same interaction occurred during the NCAA Championships, where Kempe once again embraced the second-year swimmer after another impressive showing. No words were said between the two, but they each had the mutual understanding that everything they worked for had finally paid off.
“I’ve said it every day since to keep working with [Kempe],” Oquist said. “I’ve never doubted her [before, but] especially since that moment, I’ve never doubted anything she’s ever said.”
Oquist is only one of several swimmers who have benefited from Kempe’s presence. The players enjoy her approach toward them because they can joke around with her, yet focus on her guidance to become better swimmers.
“She’s a good mixture of being laid back, [yet] super involved [because] she wants you to do really well,” said junior swimmer Sophie Weber. “She’s really motivating.”
During her collegiate swimming days at UCLA, Kempe learned valuable life lessons on being a good person and role model. 
Her in-season focus is to teach and motivate her swimmers to excel, not only inside the pool but, most importantly, in life.
“Between [the coaching staff and myself], we just really enjoy talking to [our recruits] and getting to know our prospective student-athletes a lot more than just what they are in the pool,” Kempe said. “I really care about the all-around person.”
Kempe shows how much she cares through her selflessness. Oquist said she can call Kempe at 2:00 a.m., and her coach would answer and be there for her.
Coming to Louisiana from Minnesota, the junior said how valuable it is to have someone close around for her to contact. 
“Words can’t even describe her. She reads me without having to say anything,” Oquist said. “She knows what I’m feeling the moment I walk through the door, and it’s like that throughout the entire team — men and women. She’s just like a friend above all else. She’s hands-down the best coach I’ve ever had.”
But Oquist isn’t the only swimmer who has taken to Kempe’s coaching methods.
Sophomore swimmer Silas Dejean said Kempe’s coaching aided his progression as one of the fastest breaststroke swimmers on the team because of how she helps her swimmers mentally and physically. 
As a freshman last season, Dejean was named the Most Improved Athlete on the men’s side, and he also earned his first varsity letter. Dejean swam the eighth-fastest 100-meter breaststroke and the
10th-fastest 200-meter breaststroke in LSU history at last year’s SEC Championships. 
“She’s really open to changing things, depending on how we feel,” Dejean said. “She’s just an awesome coach. She got me very quick [in the pool] in a short amount of time. I appreciate her.”
Kempe also established a relationship with the divers by organizing bonding activities such as swimmers and divers tying each other’s feet together and racing against one another. Senior diver Alex Bettridge said this year was the first time they have activities like this together.
“She serves [as a] very valuable part of our staff,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer. “I think one of Jeana [Kempe’s] strengths is to be able to be a bit of a chameleon and be able to be present, [supportive] and [have the ability] to coach any of the athletes.”
As Kempe embraced Oquist during last season’s competitions, her love was felt by all of her swimmers. 
“She’s without a doubt an integral piece to the puzzle within our staff,” said swimming coach Dave Geyer. “Being that mentor and that figure on the women’s side for our women to look up to. Having the right person in that position is important, and I feel I have that with her. It’s a sense of relief for me.”